4.5
-
407 ratings
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a taut thriller about one author at the pinnacle of her career, whose past threatens to destroy everything she has―and everyone she knows.
A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.
With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.
Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on―at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?
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ISBN-10
166252031X
ISBN-13
978-1662520310
Print length
495 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Thomas & Mercer
Publication date
October 31, 2024
Dimensions
5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
Item weight
1.11 pounds
ASIN :
B0CP8H981Z
File size :
7525 KB
Text-to-speech :
Enabled
Screen reader :
Supported
Enhanced typesetting :
Enabled
X-Ray :
Enabled
Word wise :
Enabled
Review
“[T]his novel rewards readers who pay close attention to the clues. A fun, fast-paced thriller that keeps secrets until the very last page.” —Library Journal
“Once again, J.T. Ellison hits it out of the park. A Very Bad Thing is twisting, juicy, suspenseful, and heartfelt—a single-sitting read. I couldn’t put it down.” —Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“A Very Bad Thing is a wonderfully smart, twisty psychological thriller infused with dark secrets, high drama, and edgy tension. Wow, what a ride!” —Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author
“J.T. Ellison delivers yet again. A Very Bad Thing sizzles from page one. Moving at breakneck speed, Ellison’s latest explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters and delivers twists and turns that make for an irresistible read.” —Lori Roy, Edgar Award–winning author of Lake County
“A world-famous author, a devoted daughter, a persistent journalist, and one shocking murder—master storyteller J.T. Ellison has penned another winner to keep us up at night. In A Very Bad Thing, Ellison delves into the complex nature of mother-daughter relationships, the price of fame, and the danger of long-held secrets in this addictive, impossible-to-put-down thriller. Loved it!” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest
“J.T. Ellison once again crafts a deliciously suspenseful mystery with the pacing of a top-notch thriller. Just when you think Ellison can’t top herself, she does, and A Very Bad Thing proves it. Compelling characters, a twisty mystery, and a propulsive story, I savored the book through the very last page.” —Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of You’ll Never Find Me
From the Publisher
New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison has been dazzling readers for years and has outdone herself with her new book and protagonist Columbia Jones. Columbia is an author with a massive Taylor Swift–like following—and just as many secrets.
When she dies on the last night of her book tour, the questions abound—not just about the cause of death but about what it took for Columbia to reach the highest echelon of the literary world. Was it just talent, or is there more to the story? Of course there is.
A Very Bad Thing is a truly thrilling and intricate novel about identity, family, and what happens when long buried secrets are finally revealed. —Liz Pearsons, Editor
About the Author
J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels and the Emmy Award–winning cohost of the literary TV show A Word on Words. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.
J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
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J.T. Ellison
J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries.
J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Read more
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5
407 global ratings
IRENE
5
Rollercoaster
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I got it as part of the October First Reads and I am so glad I did!! I could not put this book down, literally. The twists, the turns, magnificent writing. 5/5 recommend.
9 people found this helpful
PamB
5
a Very Bad Thing is very good indeed
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
The book was so good I couldn’t put it down. There were many twists and turns down to the last page.
3 people found this helpful
K Crawford
5
A Who-Done-It of the First Order!
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
An author on a book tour is murdered. As usual, the questions to be answered are who killed Columbia Jones and why. Is it the reporter who is interviewing her for a possible memoir? Is it her daughter Darien, who is also her publicist and the last person known to have seen her — when they argued in the hotel hall! Or…? Because as the reader will soon see, this famous, prolific, very loved author has not exactly led the life her publicity tells. There are secrets to be told, secrets that Columbia intended to tell her daughter in her own way, but now they will be brutally exposed as the case is investigated.
Ellison is a master of twisting, turning plots and this book is one of her very best. I love books that I could not guess the ending but was not tempted to check out the back pages before I get a third of the way through. This one held my attention all the way through, no checking the back.
Read more
95 people found this helpful
T.R. Baker
5
A great read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I am so glad I chose to read this book! My first time reading from the author and let me tell ya, it was a true thriller! Got me from the first page. If you love a book you can't put down, this book's for you!
14 people found this helpful
Jeanne D
5
Wow
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Stories that grab you right from the start, but this one twisted, turned and wove around to a twist at the end that I never saw coming. A really great read
4 people found this helpful
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